Starz benefits from Disney/Spielberg deal

Disney has agreed a 30-film deal with film director Steven Spielberg and his DreamWorks venture. Disney will receive a fee for each DreamWorks film it distributes and markets through its global pipeline.

Disney's pay-television deal with Starz, the cable channel owned by John Malone's Liberty Media, will see the DreamWorks included providing it with a crucial source of income. DreamWorks had hoped to be included in Universal's pay-TV deal with HBO, the cable channel owned by Time Warner. But HBO is already well stocked with movies and was not prepared to pay for such a deal.